FORMER Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has filed a resolution strongly urging the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to start holding presidential debates before the end of 2021.

The resolution pushes for an early start to the debates “to uphold the people’s right to information and accord candidates equal opportunity to be heard and to reply, for the proper exercise of the right to suffrage.”

“Holding debates and starting them earlier is key to informed choices as these debates will give the electorate ample opportunity to examine the candidates’ qualifications, track record, platforms, programs, and stand on issues of national concern,” the resolution reads.

Cayetano, who is running for Senate as an independent candidate, has been advocating for presidential, vice presidential and senatorial debates since the period for filing of candidacies in October.

His aim is for various institutions to hold the debates from December 2021 until April 2022, as these events are the best way for Filipino voters to make fully informed choices.

In October alone, 400,000 new voters registered for the upcoming election, adding to the 5 million voters who registered since the last election. This brings the total number of registered voters to 62 million.

The former Speaker had suggested that the debates be hosted by the country’s media networks, major universities, and faith-based and business groups.

Proposed topics for the debates include COVID-19 response, health, economy, wages and employment, poverty and hunger, corruption, stimulus measures for displaced workers, law enforcement, values in government, peace and order, environmental sustainability, and foreign relations.

“We keep telling people, let’s be objective, facts tayo, huwag tayo emosyon, but we’re not giving them the venue to do that. So ang nangyayari ngayon, kanya-kanyang kampanya, kanya-kanyang kampihan, but we’re not giving the public the venue na mai-side-to-side ang mga kandidato,” Cayetano previously said during a press briefing in Taguig City on November 5.

The aim is to have 15 weekly one-on-one debates among the six leading presidential candidates on a round-robin basis, compared to three presidential debates held during the 2016 presidential elections.

This will give the aspirants ample time to hash out their views on a broad range of topics and voters to familiarize with track records, qualifications, platforms, and programs.

The former Speaker hopes that these topics can be covered without the candidates using the platform to attack each other.

“Masyado nang malaki ang problema ng COVID, hindi naman natin gustong magpalabas ng debate na wala lang ginawa kundi lang mag-disagree for the sake of disagreeing,” Cayetano stated.

The debates will also serve as a basis for accountability of elected officials.

Cayetano believes that candidates do not need to be the best debater but they should be good communicators as their roles require communicating with the international community, the Cabinet, the military, the police, and the people.